African Clawed Frogs

[mpmistr]

I tried canisters when I had turtles. Things were a pain to clean out. I'm actually going for a sump. Where everything will be cleaner and easier to clean too also increasing water volume. So I could easily keep 6-8 in there?

I think 6-8 frogs is a good number to keep in that size of aquarium safely. Technically the tank could support a few more but the more frogs you keep together the greater your risk of infections such as red leg increase.

I don't have much experience with fresh water sumps or as they're also called 'refugiums'. I have read about them and they do seem neat, they do increase your water volume but I do not think they really make up for good bio/mech filtration that a canister filter gives you. My Eheim Classic filter is probably one single best product I've ever purchased for my aquarium so I guess we will have to agree to disagree on filtration.

That sure opens up a lot of ideas. Like I could get:
- Piebalds
-Rectic
-Wild type(online store is the one that has these)
-Reg. lab bred ones.

The care for these variations of xenopus are all the same, but yes you could mix it up if you were able to locate a supplier of the more rare types.

There's this online store that sells specific feed for them.

Xenopus.com? Yes they do sell pellets for these animals, I've never really read a review of this food. I would assume it is of high quality, the site mainly seems to sell xenopus as lab animals, kind of pricey but may very well be worth it if you desire rare pigmented frogs.

I'm hoping that will be their staple(currently on reptomin) with red wrigglers once or twice a week.

Reptomin is really not considered a high quality pellet food -however- it seems to be a great staple for african clawed frogs. Some may disagree, but I've never heard of an ACF owner who had an issue with reptomin as a staple. It does have high protein but the phosphorus / calcium ratio is a bit poor.. I think supplementing earthworms would make up for this deficiency. May want to skip the red wrigglers and go straight for canadian nightcrawlers. For one red wrigglers are a bit less palatable (though I doubt a xenopus would care.. most frogs do) and there seems to be some talk that red wrigglers may be a bit toxic (at least to garter snakes). I'd play it safe, eventually your frogs become so large they will prefer the larger canadian nightcrawlers anyways, and if you buy from a bait store or walmart, they cost the same anyways.

I currently feed mine every other day sometimes every two days. I saw on a site saying "feed daily" but I noticed mine got really obese doing this (when I first had one).

Sub-adults should be fed daily, adults should be fed 3-4 times a week. You're absolutely right, if fed daily they become quite fat. Then again it also depends on how much you feed them, if you fed them a little bit each day, that would be fine. My feeding regimen is one canadian nightcrawler each, every other day, some days I skip the earthworms and feed reptomin, so roughly 3 earthworms and 1 reptomin feeding, per week. Crickets are also given as treats, usually on reptomin days (worms make fat, stuffed frogs).

I also know for a fact they like aquatic plants.

Yes

But can they be fake?

Yes, but be wary of plastic plants. They can easily cut the delicate webbing of their feet. Go silk or real plants.

A site said they had to be "real".

I would argue this site is correct. Real plants help add additional biofiltration, improve water quality, and create a more natural habitat.

I don't want a huge mess with that. Had em once all it does is get the tank messy in a day or two. Especially since these fellas like to dig and kick things.

Not really. Their plant destroying prowess is a bit overrated. True nightmares to planted tanks would be turtles, goldfish, cichlids, ect...

My ACF tank has jungle vals, bacopa, moss, water sprite, wisteria, duckweed, and frog bit and it all grows just fine they hardly if ever kick up anything.

My best advice here and what is more beneficial for your frogs, get water sprite (indian fern, there are several varieties of this plant). Skip the fake stuff, floating plants such as this are fantastic, grow quickly, keep your nitrates under control and have some superb advantages..

For starters floating plants have one HUGE overlooked benefit, it makes frogs less prone to escaping. They provide a general feeling of security to the frog (froggy thought: predators can't see me! I have these plants hiding me!). They give the frog the ability to bask, watch them at night, they will use water sprite to rest -- with their nose above the water. Think how nice it is for them, an aquatic air breathing animal to have the ability to rest, breathe, relax..

Would it be wise to make small holes in the plastic lid and then use aquarium sealant to put on the lid a sort of plastic mesh(to prevent anything from slipping in or out).

I don't see why not.

[Deku]

I think 6-8 frogs is a good number to keep in that size of aquarium safely. Technically the tank could support a few more but the more frogs you keep together the greater your risk of infections such as red leg increase.

I don't have much experience with fresh water sumps or as they're also called 'refugiums'. I have read about them and they do seem neat, they do increase your water volume but I do not think they really make up for good bio/mech filtration that a canister filter gives you. My Eheim Classic filter is probably one single best product I've ever purchased for my aquarium so I guess we will have to agree to disagree on filtration.



The care for these variations of xenopus are all the same, but yes you could mix it up if you were able to locate a supplier of the more rare types.




Xenopus.com? Yes they do sell pellets for these animals, I've never really read a review of this food. I would assume it is of high quality, the site mainly seems to sell xenopus as lab animals, kind of pricey but may very well be worth it if you desire rare pigmented frogs.



Reptomin is really not considered a high quality pellet food -however- it seems to be a great staple for african clawed frogs. Some may disagree, but I've never heard of an ACF owner who had an issue with reptomin as a staple. It does have high protein but the phosphorus / calcium ratio is a bit poor.. I think supplementing earthworms would make up for this deficiency. May want to skip the red wrigglers and go straight for canadian nightcrawlers. For one red wrigglers are a bit less palatable (though I doubt a xenopus would care.. most frogs do) and there seems to be some talk that red wrigglers may be a bit toxic (at least to garter snakes). I'd play it safe, eventually your frogs become so large they will prefer the larger canadian nightcrawlers anyways, and if you buy from a bait store or walmart, they cost the same anyways.



Sub-adults should be fed daily, adults should be fed 3-4 times a week. You're absolutely right, if fed daily they become quite fat. Then again it also depends on how much you feed them, if you fed them a little bit each day, that would be fine. My feeding regimen is one canadian nightcrawler each, every other day, some days I skip the earthworms and feed reptomin, so roughly 3 earthworms and 1 reptomin feeding, per week. Crickets are also given as treats, usually on reptomin days (worms make fat, stuffed frogs).



Yes



Yes, but be wary of plastic plants. They can easily cut the delicate webbing of their feet. Go silk or real plants.



I would argue this site is correct. Real plants help add additional biofiltration, improve water quality, and create a more natural habitat.



Not really. Their plant destroying prowess is a bit overrated. True nightmares to planted tanks would be turtles, goldfish, cichlids, ect...

My ACF tank has jungle vals, bacopa, moss, water sprite, wisteria, duckweed, and frog bit and it all grows just fine they hardly if ever kick up anything.

My best advice here and what is more beneficial for your frogs, get water sprite (indian fern, there are several varieties of this plant). Skip the fake stuff, floating plants such as this are fantastic, grow quickly, keep your nitrates under control and have some superb advantages..

For starters floating plants have one HUGE overlooked benefit, it makes frogs less prone to escaping. They provide a general feeling of security to the frog (froggy thought: predators can't see me! I have these plants hiding me!). They give the frog the ability to bask, watch them at night, they will use water sprite to rest -- with their nose above the water. Think how nice it is for them, an aquatic air breathing animal to have the ability to rest, breathe, relax..



I don't see why not.

I just ordered their food. Currently I have the frog in a separate tank because I'm trying to design it more. I also understand they like to rest. I actually have black floating drainage pvc pipes. She likes to hide in there a lot. I don't know why but this frogs a bit weird... she laid eggs and does occassionally but has the black hands. She never had the black hands before but now has them(nuptial pads). I'm fairly certain their nuptial pads. I've seen them before and hers were like my last males. She was the only albino in the tank and was a female(still is since she sometimes changes to female). Is this possible?

Anywho.

As for the plants... I just don't want anything to get stuck in the filter and go to waste. Since this will be a sump(has to be-- personal preferance). Is there a way to make sure the plants don't get shredded and sent to the sump?

Thanks for saving my tuckus! I was about to buy wrigglers.

[mpmistr]

I just ordered their food. Currently I have the frog in a separate tank because I'm trying to design it more. I also understand they like to rest. I actually have black floating drainage pvc pipes. She likes to hide in there a lot.

Sounds like that will work out fine then.

I don't know why but this frogs a bit weird... she laid eggs and does occassionally but has the black hands. She never had the black hands before but now has them(nuptial pads). I'm fairly certain their nuptial pads. I've seen them before and hers were like my last males. She was the only albino in the tank and was a female(still is since she sometimes changes to female). Is this possible?

I have an albino which gets 'dark hands' but is the size of a female, never seen it lay eggs though. Never seen it do a mating call or any other male behavior either though. Your guess is as good as mine, he is almost 1 year old.

As for the plants... I just don't want anything to get stuck in the filter and go to waste. Since this will be a sump(has to be-- personal preferance). Is there a way to make sure the plants don't get shredded and sent to the sump?

Anubias and Java Fern are 'tough' plants you can grow attached to driftwood.. they wouldn't go anywhere. Could add fast growing nitrate sucking plants to your sump/refugium. Valisineria are fast growing plants and will grow in your substrate and won't be going anywhere, they also do well in hard water which ACF also enjoy.

Thanks for saving my tuckus! I was about to buy wrigglers.

Seems to be enough information to lead me to think that the wrigglers aren't worth the risk, yeah.

[Felis]

Hi,

I have one female with black hands as well. That doesn´t seem to be that extraordinary if she only has "dirty hands". Real nuptial pads are larger, at least my male does have black markings on his arms, too:



But a female looking like that would be strange indeed

Greetings

[mpmistr]

Hi,

I have one female with black hands as well. That doesn´t seem to be that extraordinary if she only has "dirty hands". Real nuptial pads are larger, at least my male does have black markings on his arms, too:



But a female looking like that would be strange indeed

Greetings

Well I suppose my albino frog would be female then. His (her..) hands do darken but never as much as the pictures I see of male ACF online, the cloaca looks very female to me. I guess it's decided!

[Felis]

I think the cloaca is a clear sign.
I´ve seen some females with dark hands and a few adult males without noticeable nuptial pads, but looking at the cloaca, it was always possible to determine the frog´s sex (as long as they´re old enough).

P.S. also my male started croaking by the time his arms became black; if you didn´t hear the albino by now, I think that´s another hint

[Deku]

Umm weird thing about it is. I've heard her make "clicking" sounds a few times. Like very very rare. But she's done it.

[Deku]

Well I suppose my albino frog would be female then. His (her..) hands do darken but never as much as the pictures I see of male ACF online, the cloaca looks very female to me. I guess it's decided!

Same. God they like to mess with my head so much. Dx why do they do this!? I must know! I SWEAR I've seen her laid eggs, which she usually eats(guess she looses some minerals when she lays eggs)

[Deku]

Sounds like that will work out fine then.



I have an albino which gets 'dark hands' but is the size of a female, never seen it lay eggs though. Never seen it do a mating call or any other male behavior either though. Your guess is as good as mine, he is almost 1 year old.



Anubias and Java Fern are 'tough' plants you can grow attached to driftwood.. they wouldn't go anywhere. Could add fast growing nitrate sucking plants to your sump/refugium. Valisineria are fast growing plants and will grow in your substrate and won't be going anywhere, they also do well in hard water which ACF also enjoy.



Seems to be enough information to lead me to think that the wrigglers aren't worth the risk, yeah.

I hope to be getting myself more informed. The most I can, before I make a decision. I mean I know these frogs are "easy"(does not mean there is no care involve-- iknow that) compared to other frogs. But I want these frogs not only to "live" but to "thrive". I'm going to test out the interactions in a "fake" set up. I.e. a test run set up. Like a 30gallon (a spare I have somewhere in my house), and put in there all that stuff and a cheap filter and see what actually goes on. To see if she will rip the plants apart and I end up with a clogged filter. Or if they grow and no matter how much she "darts" (which she only does every once in a while such as turning on the lights or feeding time) That was my main concern. I know turtles would maul the plants. I just hope these frogs don't. It'd be a great addition and would help keep water quality in check. Though I do notice the water gets a bit yellow when plants are in there. And I do hope I don't have to "trim" the plants TOO much(some plants kinda grow so fast they end up "shedding" some old leaves).